Because of its name, shabby chic furniture could be perceived by some to consist of tatty old items that would be better placed in a jumble sale, rather than a home. While it’s true this style of furniture encapsulates a well loved and well aged look, it’s also a very calming and pretty style of interior decor that can make a house look incredibly warm and welcoming. Shabby chic furniture is by no means the preferred style for everybody, but as the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, and that’s certainly the case here.
If you’re a fan of the contemporary style of home decor, with its clean lines, no fuss and no frills look, then shabby chic is certainly not for you – but if you’re a fan of country cottage or kitsch, you could quite happily incorporate this style of furniture into any room of your house and be delighted with the results.
One thing to look out for is French shabby chic furniture, either second-hand items that have a worn and age-distressed characteristic, or reproduction French style furniture that’s been painted and hand-distressed. You can find some lovely items, such as French beds, armoires, tables and chairs, which emulate that classic French sophistication while simultaneously capturing the essence of shabby chic. Although white furniture is often used, you can also look for beautiful pastel tones, such as mauve, mint green and eggshell blue if you want something a little more feminine or less clinical.
An added benefit is that if you ever wanted to do a re-style, you could consider stripping your furniture of its distressed painted finish and restore your armoires, French beds, tables and chairs to their natural wooden finish – a lick of varnish later and you’ve managed to convert your ‘shabby’ furniture into classic items of French style furniture that will complement almost any alternative look you chose.
Once you’ve found the shabby chic furniture of your choice you can then add some finishing touches to carry the theme through. Choose soft furnishings that tend toward the country cottage look; linens and cottons that look slightly tainted by use, or cushions with floral prints – which would look great adorning your shabby-style French bed. French mirrors, cute chandeliers and pretty flower arrangements are the ideal way to set off your shabby chic furniture and create a homely feel that both your family and visitors will adore.
